Cleaning tank



Dec. 17, 1929. c. H. SLAUTER 3 CLEANING TANK Q Filed Nov. 12, 1925z'sneets-sheet 1 j 4 & 2 74 m INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 17, 1929.

c. H. SLAUTER CLEANING TANK Filed Nov. 12. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWWINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

ZLM

Patented Dec. 17, 1929 Parser CHARLES H. SLAUTER, F COLUMBUS, OHIOCLEANING TANK 7 Application filed November 12, 1925. Serial N0. 68,645.

1o bolts, et cetera and clean them thoroughly.

These parts are usually covered with dirt and grease which is dificultto fully remove.

Also, in the salvaging of old castings, gears,

and the like, from discarded machinery, ineluding automobiles, it iscustomary to thoroughly clean the salvaged parts before they are sold orused in any other connection. These salvaged parts include variouscastings, bolts and gears.

Heretofore, in the cleaning of grease and dirt from castings, gears, etcetera, taken from machinery, including automobile-s and the like, ithas been customary to employ a comparatively large tank or vat adaptedto contain a chemical cleaning solution which,

when heated and agitated, attacks and removes the grease and dirt fromsuch parts.

It has been customary to heat the chemical solution in the tank eitherby applying heat directly to the bottom of the tank or by the use of aheating unit located at a point remote from the tank.

The cleaning tanks above referred to are objectionable because theyrequire considerable space for installation which is not always found inbuildings, including garages and the like, where cleaning of oldcastings, gears, et cetera, is ordinarily done. Furthermore, theseformer cleaning tanks constitute a serious fire hazard and requireconsiderable attention at all times. Still further, in the cleaning ofold castings, gears, and the like, much difiiculty has been experiencedin cleaning out the tanks when it becomes necessary. Also, with theheating unit placed outside of and remote from the tank, much heat isrequired for properly heating and circulating the solution in the tank,the greater portion of this heat being ineffective and lost.

One of the objects of my invention is to adds to the compactness of myconstruction provide a cleaning tank adapted to conserve space, thelimits of the tank itself being the factor which determines the entirespace to be occupied. My cleaning tank is compact and is'of simpleconstruction and cheap to manufacture.

Another object of my invention is to provlde means located within thetank for heat mg and agitating the solution therein. This and, at thesame time, serves to conserve and ,to render effective for heatingpurposes substantially all of the heat applied to the heating unit. Theheating unit is thus rendered of maximum efficiency.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means locatedwithin the tank for controlling the level of the solution therein andforcarrying away oil, scum, and the like which rises to the surface ofthe solution in the tank. j Another object isto provide means forfacilitating removal of sludge and sediment from the bottom of the tank,this means being adapted to permit such removal without the danger ofclogging the drains. A further'object is to provide means for heatingthe fluid in the tank to a higher degree without increasing the numberof heating units applied, at the same time, creating an increasedagitation of the'solution in the tank.

Other and further objects will appear hereinafter and by reference tothe drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my cleaning tank, showing a portion ofthe tank walls being cut away to show the interior construction of thetank. Also, in this figure, a portion of the heater casing is cut awayin order to show the interior thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the tank shown in Figure 1.

WVith reference to the drawings, my cleaning tank may comprise a tank 1which may 95 be of any suitable size and shape dependent upon the spaceavailable. This tank 1 may be made of any desired construction and isadapted to hold a liquid, such as a chemical solution for cleaninggrease and the-like from we old castings and gears, et cetera, withoutleakage. This tank 1 is carried by a plurality of legs 2 so that thebottom of the tank is spaced from the floor. The tank 1 is not shownwith a cover over the top thereof but such a cover may be used ifdesired. Furthermore, each of the side walls of the tank 1 are providedwith an outwardly extending flange 1. If desired, the outer surface ofmy tank may be covered with an insulating material (not shown), such asslabs of asbestos or the like. In that case the flanges 1 extend outover the insulating material and prevent the chemical solution in thetank from coming in contact with it. These flanges also prevent wearingaway of the top portion of the insulating material.

Disposed within the tank 1 is a heater which may comprise a casing 3.The heater casing 3 is arranged in the interior of the tank 1 in such away that its lower portion extends through and beneath the floor of thetank as shown in Figure 2. A leak-proof joint is provided between thecasing 3 and the bottom of the tank 1 in any suitable man ner.

The heater casing 3 is adapted to enclose a plurality of coil units.Eight coil units are shown in the drawings but it is obvious that asmany coil units may be used as the particular conditions of use mayrequire. I may employ two rows of these coil units, as shown in thedrawings, each row containing four or more units as desired. One rowofcoil units is disposed above the other sothat the coil units arearranged in pairs in vertical alignment with each other, as shown inFigure 1. However, it is to be understood that my invention is not to belimited to two rows of coils and that one or more rows of coils may beused as desired.

Each of the coil units comprises an outer coil 4 and an inner coil'5.Boththe inner and outer coils of each coil unit are connected to acommon inlet 6 and a common outlet 7. Disposed beneath and in verticalalignment with each pair of vetrically disposed coil units is a. burner8, there being, in this instance, four of such burners employed. Each ofthese burners 8 is connected to a common fuel supply pipe 9 which is, inturn, connected to any desired fuel supply not shown. By applying heatto two concentrically located coils in the manner shown in the drawings,a greatly increased heating, circulation and agitation is brought aboutin a minimum length of time with the application of a minimum amount ofheat.

The casing 3 is spaced on all sides, except at the bottom, from thewalls of the tank 1. This permits circulation of the solution in thetank on all sides of the heater casing 3. Furthermore, by spacing theheater from the walls of the tank the solution between the heater andsuch walls serves as an insulating medium, further reducing firehazards. Also, the casing 3 encloses the coil units on all sidesthereofexcept at the bottom thereof, which is open to permit the flames fromthe burners to enter the casing and contact with each of the coils 4;and 5 (see Figure 2). Although I preferably provide the casing 8 with anopen bottom, yet it is obvious that the bottom may be closed except foropening immediately below the burners 8 topermit the flames from suchburners to contact with their respective coil units. In some instancesit may be found desirable to place a wire gauze screen (not shown)across the otherwise open bottom of the casing 3. In that case theburners 8 are located above the screen. Such an ar rangement as thiswould positively prevent explosion and the due to a combustible mixtureor some object coming in contact with the flames from the burners. As anaddi tional lire precaution, particularly inbuildings where woodenfloors are used, a slab of asbestos or other insulating material may besuspended at a point spaced beneath the burners 8. This preventscharring or setting fire to the floor. It is to be understood that thisprecaution is not necessary and is to be employed only in accordancewith the desires of the particular users.

The products of combustion are carried away from the casing 3 and theproper heating effects are obtained therein by the provision of the flue10 in the top of the casing 3 as shown in the drawings. This flue 10 ispreferably connected to a chimney or stack or some other means wherebythe products of combustion may be carried outside the building, therebyeliminating the possibility of fire which might otherwise result if itopened directly to the inside of the building.

In the use of the construction just described, the tank 1, being filledto the desired extent with a proper solution, and the burners 8 lighted,the flame and heat from each of the burners 8 contact with the innercoils 5 and the outer coils 1 of each vertically disposed pair of coilunits. In this manner, the fluid which is in the coils t and 5 is heatedVery quickly. As the fluid in the coils 4; and 5 becomes heated, thetendency is, as is well known, for such heated fluid to rise. As the hotfluid in the lower coils of each coil unit rises, cooler fluid from themain body of the fluid in the tank enters each of the coil units 6 andis in turn heated. This action causes a circulation of fluid through thecoils of each coil unit in the well-known manner, causing, in turn, acirculation of the fluid from the tank through each inlet 6, each of thecoils l and 5, and each outlet 7. Thus, all of the fluid in the tank 1is caused to circulate by the provision of a plurality of coil inletsand outlets at different horizontal and different vertical positionsbeneath the level of the liquid. The circulation of the fluid in themanner just described also agitates such fluid so that the chemicalsolution used will do its work and function in the manner intended. Itis obvious that by employing a a great number of coil units, such asshown in Figure 1, all of the fluid in tank 1 is in constant circulationand, at the same time, all of such fluid is agitated to the requiredextent.

When it is desired to clean any castings and the like, all that need bedone is to fill the tank to the desired level with a suitable chemicalsolution, light the burners 8 and place the articles to be treated inthe tank in the body of the solution.

After a certain number of such articles have been cleaned, the solutionin the tank may become very dirty and it may become desirable to drainthe solution from the tank and clean the tank before cleaning otherarticles. In order to accomplish this cleaning most efiectively, Iprovide a drain pipe 11 which is connected to a drain valve 13 which is,in turn, connected to a drain coupling 12. The coupling 12 connects toan opening in the bottom of the tank 1. Then the tank 1 is filled withthe cleaning solution and during cleaning, the drain pipe 11 is cut offfrom the drain coupling 12 by the drain valve 13 which, at that time, isin closed position. When it is desired to drain the cleaning solutionfrom the tank 1, the drain valve 13 is opened and the solution isdrained through the drain coupling 12 and the dram pipe 11. I

During the cleaning of grease, dlrt, et cetera, from castings, gears,and the l1ke, part of the dirt, et cetera, settles to the bottom of thetank. It is highly desirable that this sludge or sediment be preventedfrom entering the drain pipe 11 during the draming of the tank. Toprovide for thls, the coupling 12 is internally theaded and adapted toreceive a nipple 14 which is screwed into the coupling 12 so that itprojects a suitable distance above the bottom of the tank and also abovethe sludge and sediment lying on the bottom of the tank (see Figure 2).With this arrangement, when the tank 1 is drained, the cleaning solutionmay be drained ofi without such sludge or sediment entering the draincoupling 12 and the drain pipe 11.

After the solution has been drained from the tank, the sludge on thebottom of the tank may be removed in any desired manner. Then, in orderthat the interior of the tank may be flushed out and thoroughly cleaned,I preferably remove the nipple 14 so that, after the tank 1 is flushed,the flushing fluid may all drain through the drain coupling 12 and thedrain pipe 11.

My cleaning tank is also provided with an over-flow trough .15. Thisover-flow trough insures and determines the maximum level 'of thecleaning fluid in the tank .1. 'Also, while the cleaning action istaking place, scum and oil rises tothe surface of the solution. It isdesirable that this scum, oil,- and the like be removed. Since this scumand oil rises to the surface o'fthe solution, a greater portion of itwill find its way, during the circulation and agitation of the cleaningI solution at a uniform temperature in order that the solution may bemost efl'ective in cleaning. To accomplish this, when desired, I mayemploy a thermostatic control apparatus .(not shown), which may operateto reduce or increase the heat units applied as the operating conditionsmay require.

It is obvious that my invention is efficient in the heating of liquids.It is not limited solely to cleaning since it is obvious it may be usedfor the purpose of heating water or other liquids where the rapidheating of large quantities is required, as in laundries, creameries,and the like.

From the foregoing, it is seen that I have provided a cleaning tankwhich is of simple construction, yet of maximum eiiiciency. Only a verysmall amount of space is required for the installation of my tank. Thelimits of the tank itself determines the entire space to be occupied bymy apparatus. The means which I provide for heating the solution in thetank is so arranged as to conserve and utilize all or substantially allof the heat supplied by the heat producing means. I employ a coilconstruction which insures maximum efiiciency from the heating means.Furthermore, I have provided apparatus which is simple to operate andwhich is easily cleaned after operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a cleaningapparatus, a tank adapted to contain a. cleaning solution,supports for said tank, said supports serving to elevate the bottom wallof said tank above the floor level, a casing disposed within said tank,the sides for one end of said casing being spaced from the sides and topof said tank and the open end of said casing extending through thebottom wall of said tank, a plurality of independent coil units arrangedin vertically aligned separated pairs within said casing,

I each of said coils having separate inlet and outlet in communicationwith the interior of said tank and at various positions both verticallyand laterally, a flue extending from the top of said casing and meansfor heating each pair of coil units.

In testimony whereof I hereby a-fiix my signature.

CHARLES H. 'SLAUTER.

